First time to the Grotto and really had a great time. Â The music was great, the service excellent and the beer cold. Â Loved the live performance of Jon Griffin & His Blues Band, highly recommend you try this out. Â A very nice, comfortable and relaxed evening, but be sure to get here early because even on a Saturday night they close at midnight and last call is 11:30.
Review Source:It might be the fact that I had two babies in the last two years, and rarely get  "out on the town", that I thought this place was great......or maybe this place IS just that cool.
I went here on a Friday night for a girlfriend's birthday and we all had a rockin' evening.
The music was fantastic, a sweet rock & roll band called "Travis Muscatell & The Black Hand Rivalry" that had a lead guitarist with a bold, raspy voice, a drummer who knew his stuff and an amazing electric violinist with a crazy-rad effects pedal board and a sense of mastery & musical grace that was very exciting to experience.
The grotto is attached to the Italian restaurant, Sauce on the Square (of which I haven't dined at yet).
I like the versatility of the Grotto's space. The natural brick walls covered in oversized CD cover art. lets you know that the main focus is on their live music. There's cozy seating above in a 2nd floor balcony like area, and I heard there was a bar up there, but I didn't have a chance to see it.
It's got a nice intimate, romantic feel too for grabbing an appetizer and fresh hand-mixed cocktails. Just don't take a date during the live music, unless they have a really annoying voice and you're tired of listening to them....you won't be able to hear them. It's pretty loud for any kind of reasonable conversation.
We all had individual pizzas ($7) - my favorite was the good ol' Margherita pizza. The Farmers Pizza w/ artichoke, mushroom, olive etc was pretty good - and the Texas Sausage was a nice blend of spicy jalapeno sausage, red onion and pepper.
Service was great, we never had to ask for a refill of water or drinks, as they were very attentive. They gave our birthday girl a complimentary slice of chocolate cake that was pretty darn tasty too.
Any venue that focuses on bringing in LIVE music from the "80s & 90s" is a hit in my book. Grotto LIVE did it for me. I'll be back.
Came here last weekend on a Friday  night to see a SRV cover band. MAN were they good! The atmosphere here also is good, and the food is really awesome!  The food comes from next door at Sauce on the Square, it's italian so YES! They had blue cheese stuffed olives for my martini!!
Hubby  had Franconia, and friends we were with had different flavored drinks, many of them with Elderflower, which I am loving right now.
Great service as well - overall this is a must see. Very hard to find, because it's not labeled (duh - Grotto!), so just go in the next door to the right of Sauce, and you'll be there! Loved it.
This is my favorite place to go in Mckinney! Â You get the best of both worlds. Â Dine with the amazing food from Sauce and listen to great rock n roll. Â Every band I have heard there was fun and entertaining. Â I think the owner, Rick does a good job of selecting bands. Â The service is always exceptional.
Review Source:My husband I went to the Grotto this weekend for a nightcap and had a blast. Â The music was good, the atmosphere was great, and I really enjoyed my cocktail "the complex dream." Â We had already eaten dinner but I wish we had been hungry for more. Â I love the food at Sauce next door, which also services Grotto. Â Only complaint was that there wasn't any place to dance! Â Will definitely go back.
Review Source:I had the opportunity to experience Grotto Live on a Thursday evening. Tiny little slice of acoustic heaven right there.  Its a clean, sleek , modern atmosphere and its in downtown McKinney. I have to comment how lucky Mckinn_ians  are to have entertainment venues at such close arms reach. Its starting to be prevelant that driving to Dallas for a similar 'night out' will just be a waste of time and gas money.
They have some great options in downtown McKinney and Grotto Live has just stepped up the availability of great music and food in a comfortable environment.
I ordered the Elder martini.. Fabulcious! And shared the calamari..Wow! Â Waking Norman played acoustic songs, engaged a small crowd and told/sang heartfelt original music along with well known modern alt/rock classics. All three made for a great experience. You will not go wrong here unless of course it gets packed and you dont have a reservation. Enjoy!
We met friends there for dinner on Saturday night. Â We had a group of 8 that got seated at 2 tables of 4. Â Obviously, that made it difficult to talk to the other 4 people. Â We had the 7 pm seating and were told that the band would start around 8. Â We ordered drinks and dinner (to confirm, it does look like the menu from Sauce) and were talking when the band started up around 7:30. Â It was loud and hard to have a conversation after that. Â Our food was good and the waiter was attentive. Â After dinner, we went upstairs and had another drink. Â The mezzanine was nice, couches along the wall and a few tall tables. Â The music volume was a little better up there.
Overall, it was a good experience. Â Don't plan to have an intimate conversation with the band playing. Â But, if you want to listen to some good music and like the food at Sauce, this is your place.
One tip, if there is a line for the bathroom, sneak through the hall at the back of the place and use the one in Sauce.
I wasn't going to write anymore reviews for places on the square because I think I'm really partial to the square (I think I've said this before, possibly repeatedly) but I'm making an exception here.
Grotto Live is the new live rock bar attached to Sauce on the Square. We'd never made it to Sauce before Grotto opened so it's opening was a great excuse to go. Â Sauce is fantastic but that deserves a review all on its own. Â I want to put in a good word for Grotto while trying to preserve some credibility as a Yelper.
Pros: Â
It's on the square. Â
You can order from Sauce's menu. Â
It's small, so it feels really intimate.
It has a loft with a separate bar so you can look down on whoever's playing (you know, physically down, not "down" as in "down your nose", though you might because your eyes are pointed in that general direction)
The downstairs has tables like a a regular restaurant, with normal size tables
The upstairs has couches and ottomans and a couple of cocktail tables (and a separate bar ... did I mention that?)
They have very atttentive management. If you leave with a complaint,you couldn't have mentioned it to the manager. Â Maybe he just thought I was famous (but I doubt it).
Good bands.
Excellent strawberry daquiri (but they need to learn to put sugar on the glass)
Cons:
It's small. Â If you don't get the intimate vibe, you might get claustrophobia.
The speakers on the wall upstairs are pretty much at ear level. Â While a great date spot, you aren't going to be having a whispered conversation. (Of course, name a rock bar where you are).
One of my Twitter friends thought it was pretentious.
Overall, I loved it. Â It reminds me of, say ... Red Jacket meets Tipperary (back in the 90's) (when the Tipp was itty bitty, before it moved to Live Oak). Â The hostesses are all knock-outs and are silhouetted against the front window while the sun is still up. Â Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Â Band that played while I was there was "Ground Control" and played really good covers of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Police and Matchbox 20. Â Definitely noting when they play again to go back and spend more time.
Although you can order food upstairs until 7, I wouldn't advise it  - the cocktail tables are made for cocktails, not plates and service. (If you order food, try the chicken and prosciutto.  It's really good).
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